Knot-tying machine.



J. G. ANDERSON.

KNOT TYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1908.

949,408. Patented Feb. 15,1910.

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J. G. ANDERSON.

KNOT TYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1908. 949,408, Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

anvznfon UNTD STATE PATENT OFFfQE.

JOSEPH CLARKE ANDERSON, OF CORDOVA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN T. HENDERSON, OF COR-DOVA, ALABAMA.

KNOT-TYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed June 25, 1908. Serial No. 440,411.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cordova, in the county of lValker and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Knot-Tying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in knot tying machines or implements and is designed more especially to 'produce an instrument which may be worn upon the hand of the operator for the purpose of readily tying knots in the ends of two 'hreads or st ands to unite such threads or strands.

The invent-ion comprises an implement which may be worn upon the hand of the user without interference with the use of the hand for other purposes and which is easily operated by a movement of the thumb of the user so as to rotate a tying bill to form the knot, and when the knot has been properly tied to strip the thread from the tying bill at the same time cutting the waste ends of the thread.

The present invention is confined more particularly to certain details of construction which enter into a knot tying device as characterized above, and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompai'tying drawings, forming a part of this specification, butit will be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact details of constrnction or location of parts shown in the drawings since such features may be variously modified without in any manner departing from the principles upon which the invention is based.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation taken from the thumb side of the in'iplement, and showing the same on a some-- what enlarged scale. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking from the opposite side of the implement. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the implement in position to receive the threads preparatory to the tying operation. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the tying bill and adjacent parts with parts omitted, shm'ving the tying bill in one phase of its operation. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a rack and pinion movement used in connection with the device. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a cam bracket used in connection with the im plement. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of spinning mechanism, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the tying bill to show a portion of the structure thereof.

1 n the drawings there is shown a standard or plate 1 to which secured a strap 2 having its free ends connected by a buckle 3 so that the strap may be fitted to the hand of the user to embrace the same leaving the tingers and thumb free. In the practical embodiment of the invention the standard 1 is made of metal and the strap 2 is usually made of leather but may be made of other flexible material.

The upper end 1 of the standard 1 is bent at substantially right angles to the said standard, and receives and supports a plate 5 to which most of the operating parts of the tying implement are secured. About midway of its length the plate 5 has formed thereon or secured thereto a post 6 suitably bored to receive the shafts T of the tying bill. The post 6 is centrally slotted as shown at 8 to house a pinion 9 made fast on the journal end of the tying bill. The end of the tying bill shaft remote from the pinion t) is flattened as shown at 10 and terminates in a right angled extension 11 con stituting a part of the tying bill. Attached to the shaft 7 and extending longitudinally thereof is a Hat blade 12 having its outer end turned at an angle as shown at 13 to match the angle extension 11 of the flattened por tion 10 0f the tying bill shaft. The blade 12 is held to the shaft 7 by a sleeve 14: through which there passes a set screw 15. Passing through the flattened portion 10 of the shaft 7 and also through the blade 12, at the angle where these two parts merge into the cxtensions 11 and 13 respectively, is a pivot pin 16. The pivot pin 16 carries a clamping and shearing jaw 17 lying between the flattened portion 10 of the tying bill shaft and the blade 12. This shearing member has one end widened as shown at 18, and extending from each corner of the widened portion at its free end is a linger 19. The other end of the shearing blade is formed into an angle extension 20 matching the angle extensions 11 and 13 before described and lying between said extensions. The extension 20 coacts with the extensions 11 and 13 to clamp thread lying between them and under eertain conditions to shear the thread off. The extent of movement of the shearing blade Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

17 about its axis is determined by the engagement of the fingers 19 with the shaft 7.

Beneath the tying bill the plate or support 5 is provided with a lateral extension 21 to which is secured a bracket 22 best shown in Fig. 6. This bracket is formed with two legs adapted to straddle the extension 21 and is secured thereto by a set screw 23, or if so desired the bracket may be formed in one piece with the extension 21. The bracket 22 is provided with cam surfaces 2 1 and 25 meeting and merging one into the other and in position to engage the respective edges of the widest portion 18 of the shear blade 17 for apurpose which will presently appear. At one end of the plate 5 is formed a journal bearing 26 for a transverse shaft 27. This journal bearing may be formed in one piece with the plate 5 or as shown in the drawing it may be formed of a separate plate held to the plate 5 by a set screw 28 extending through a slot 29 formed in the body of the journal bearing so that the latter may be adjusted on the plate 5. The shaft 27 carries at one end a rock arm 30. At the other end of the shaft 27 there is secured a segmental gear 31 in mesh with the pinion 9. Projecting from the segmental gear 31 is an angle arm 32 con nected by a link 33 to one arm 34 of a bell crank lever 35 pivotally secured to the standard or plate 1 by a pivot screw 36,

' which screw may of course be replaced by a suitably upset stud. The other arm 37 of the bell crank lever 35 has its end bent at an angle to the main portion and is there expanded into a yoke 38 adapted to embrace the thumb of the hand of the user when the fingers or palm of the hand have been encircled by the strap 2.

On the other side of the plate 5 is a rack bar 30 having one edge formed with teeth 40, and also provided with longitudinal slots 41 and 4L2 in line one with the other. Suitable screws 43 serve to hold the rack bar to the under side of the plate 5, and limit the longitudinal movement of this bar in each direction. At one end the rack bar 39 carries a stud 4:4, which may be a split stud as shown, and this stud receives one end of a link 45, this link being held to the stud by a suitable screw or pin 16. The other end of the link 45 is pivotally secured to the rock arm 30 before referred to. The connection between the arm 32 and link 33 is in the form of a stud 46 which is extended a suflicient distance beyond the link 33 to be in the path of the link 45 at one limit of its movement, thereby constituting a stop for preventing the travel of the segmental rack 31 about its axis beyond a certain predetermined limit.

The rack teeth 40 are in mesh with a pinion 47 on the lower end of a short stub shaft 48 which latter extends upward through the plate 5 and there carries a crank arm 49 from the free end of which rises a pin 50. In the plate 5 adjacent to the shaft as there is journaled a pivot pin or stud 51 so as to be free to rotate upon a longitudinal axis. Made fast at one end to the pivot 51 is a plate 52 terminating at the free end in an angle extension Embracing the plate 52 is another plate 54 folded on itself longitudinally and held to the plate 52 by a number of short pins so that the plate 545 is free to slide longitudinally on the plate but cannot escape therefrom. The front end of the plate 52 is reduced in width to form a shoulder 56 arranged to coact with the like edge of the angle extension 53 to act as a clamp or gripper as will presently appear. The plate 54: at the end remote from the shoulder 56 is formed into a sleeve 57 to receive the pin 50 on the crank arm 49.

On the side of the tying bill remote from he clamping structure just described there is erected a bracket 58 on which is formed an arm 59 terminating at its free end in a hook 60, and above this arm the bracket is formed with a guiding finger 61 bent to partially overhang the tying bill. The relative positions of the parts when normally located preparatory to tying a knot is that shown in Fig. 3 most clearly and less clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the angle extension of the tying bill being pointed upwardly as viewed in these figures, and the clamp member 54 is in its closest relation to the said tying bill. Under these conditions two threads lying side by side are directed by the finger 61 against the inner edge of the upturned end of the tying bill, and also into the hook 60 on one side and between the up-turned end 53 of the plate 52, and the shoulder 56 of the plate 5 In the position of the parts just described the yoke 38 is in its uppermost position.

After the threads have been inserted in the instrument in the manner just described the yoke end of the bell crank lever 35 is moved downwardly by the thumb of the operator. This motion is transmitted by the link 33 to the segmental gear 31 and through the pinion 9 rotative movement is imparted to the tying bill shaft 7 in a counter-clock wise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. When the tying bill is in its initial position the shear end 20 of the shear blade 17 is housed between the two angle extensions 11 and 13 and the tying bill engages the thread and forms a loop therein. As the rotation of the tying bill continues the cam surface 24 engages the appropriate edge of the end 18 of the shear blade and causes the end 20 to move outward from the extensions 11 and 13, and ultimately the ends of the threads are caught between the member 20 and the two members 11 and 13. In the meantime,

the threads are caught and clamped between the shoulder 56 and the end extension 523, the first movement of the rack 39 being to slide the plate 54; toward the end 53 of the plate and then the continued movement of the rack 39 will cause these two plates with the thread clamped between them to swing about the pivot 51 away from the tying hook. thus tightening the knot and stripping the same from the tying bill as the free ends of the threads are cut oil by the end 20 of the cutting blade being forced between the extensions 11 and 13 by the engagement of the cam surface 24 with the appropriate edge of the wide portion 18 of the shear blade toward the completion of the movement of the said tying bill, the entire rotative movement of the latter embracing somewhat more than a complete revolution. The complete movement of the rack bar 39 is sufficient to rotate the shaft 48 for a distance which will again cause the plate 54L to more with its shoulder 56 away from the extension 53, and so release the threads from the clamping action of the shoulder 56 and the extension after the knot has been tied and the threads have been stripped from the tying bill. On the return of the bell crank lever 55 to its initial position the parts are again brought into proper relation to receive another pair of threads which may then be tied together in the manner already described.

The pivot pin 16 is in the construction described fast on the shearing and clamping jaw 17 and this allows adjustment between the said shearing and clamping jaw, and the knotter shaft when coarse threads are being used, or threads of different sizes.

What is claimed is:

1. A tying bill comprising a shaft having two outer members capable of movement one away from the other and an intermediate member, the said intermediate member be- .ing pivotally attached to the two outer members by a pivot pin carried by and fast on the said intermediate member and turning freely in the outer members.

2. A tying bill comprising a shaft having two outer members and an intermediate member pivoted to the outer members and provided with projecting fingers adapted to engage the shaft for limiting the movement of the .intern'iediate member about the pivot.

3. A tying bill comprising a shaft. having outer members and an intermediate member pivoted to the outer members by a pivot pin fast on the intermediate member, said intermediate member having projecting lingers adapted to engage the shaft for limiting its range of movement about the pivot.

4. In a device of the class described, a tying bill provided with an intermediate I l l clamping and shearing member pivoted to the tying bill and provided with projecting fingers adapted to engage the main portion of the tying bill for limiting the movement of the intermediate member about its pivot, and a cam b 'acket at one side of the tying bill in the path of the intermediate member during a portion of the movement of the tying bill about its axis.

5. In an implement of the class described, a rotatable tying bill having two members one of which is detachable, means for holding the detachable member to the other member, an intermediate clamping and shearing member pivotally secured to the other members of the tying bill and provided with means coacting with the portion of the tying bill carrying the outer members for preventing movement of the intermediate member about its pivot beyond a predetermined limit, and a cam member at one side of the tying bill for engaging the intermediate member and moving the same about its pivot.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable tying bill, a fixed thread engaging member at one side thereof, a movable clamp member at the other side thereof, and a guide member having one end adjacent to the tying bill and at the same distance from the said fixed member and the said movable clamp member as is the tying bill.

7. In a device of the class described, a swinging clamp arm in operative relation to the tying bill comprising two members one sliding on the other and both movable about a common axis, a crank shaft connected to the sliding member and operating both to actuate the sliding member and to move both members about the common axis and a means for actuating said crank shaft com prising a pinion on said shaft and a sliding rack engaging said pinion.

S. In a device of the character described, a rotatable tying bill, a pinion carried thereby, a segmental gear engaging said pinion, a thumb lever connected to said gear for actuating the same, a rock shaft carrying said segmental gear, a rock arm on said shaft, a sliding rack, a link connecting the rock arm on the shaft to said sliding -ack, a pinion engaging said rack, a crank shaft carrying said pinion and a clamping member in operative relation to the tying bill and actuated by said crank shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH CLARKF ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses MARIELLA KNIGHT,

E. I. GILci-nmAsn. 

